Abstract: A thermal cycler system comprises a sample block configured to receive a sample holder configured to receive a plurality of samples; an adaptor configured to surround a periphery of the sample block; and a drip pan configured to surround a periphery of the adaptor. The drip pan comprises one or more ejector mechanisms and one or more openings, the one or more ejector mechanisms configured to respectively extend through the one or more openings into contact with the sample holder in a state of the sample holder received by the sample block and the adaptor surrounding the periphery of the sample block.

Abstract: The method of analyzing absorbance of one or more liquid samples (3) arranged in the wells (2) of a microplate (1) comprises the steps of setting a desired wavelength falling within the wavelength range of 380 nm-750 nm for absorbance measurement (101), illuminating the samples (3) using electromagnetic radiation having a bandwidth of at most 20 nm around the set wavelength (102), measuring radiant flux transmitted through each sample (3) (103), on the basis of measured radiant flux values, determining an absorbance value for each sample (3) (104), and visualizing the absorbance values on a display (12) as a matrix comprising a plurality of cells (23), each cell (23) corresponding to a well (2) of the microplate (1) (105). The set wavelength is used as an input for determining the visual properties of the cells (23).

Abstract: A fluid mixing system includes a flexible bag having a first end, an opposing second end, and an interior surface bounding a compartment; a retainer coupled to the second end of the flexible bag, the retainer having a retention cavity formed thereon that communicates with the compartment of the flexible bag; and an elongated member having a first end rotatably coupled to the first end of the flexible bag and an opposing second end freely disposed within the retention cavity of the retainer so that the second end of the elongated member can rotate within the retention cavity relative to the retainer.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes oligonucleotide-tethered nucleotides, methods of making them, and methods of using them. The oligonucleotide-tethered nucleotides comprise, in some embodiments, a nucleotide linked to an oligonucleotide of from about 3 to about 100 nucleotides in length. These oligonucleotide-tethered nucleotides can be used to label a plurality of different types of nucleic acids in a plurality of different situations with a known oligonucleotide, which can serve as a barcode in some embodiments. The resulting oligonucleotide-labeled nucleic acids oligo-nucleotides can be used in a variety of nucleic acid sequencing methods.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing particle analysis through flow cytometry at comparatively high event rates and for gathering high resolution images of particles.

Abstract: An instrument for biological analysis includes a base, an excitation source, an optical sensor, an excitation optical system, and an emission optical system. The base is configured to receive a sample holder comprising a plurality of biological samples. The optical sensor is configured to receive emissions from the biological samples in response to the excitation source. The instrument may additionally include a sensor lens enclosed by a lens case and a focusing mechanism including a gear that engages the lens case, the focusing mechanism being accessible outside the enclosure for adjusting a focus. The may instrument further include a sensor aperture dispose along an emission optical path and a blocking structure disposed to cooperate with the sensor aperture such that none of the reflected radiation from an illuminated surface near the sample holder is received by the optical sensor that does not also reflect off another surface of the instrument.

Abstract: Disclosed are primer set compositions, methods and kits for human identification using the highly complex sequence locus, SE33 (ACTBP2) in single and multiplex PCR reactions. Additionally, disclosed are three newly discovered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the SE33 locus that can cause discordance seen as mobility shift or allelic dropout. Also disclosed are kits useful in human identification.

Abstract: A container includes a lower portion and a lid to connect with the lower portion. The lid includes a fluidic interface, a swing bar, and a counter structure disposed on an opposite side of the fluidic interface relative to the swing bar. The fluidic interface includes a first liquid port, a second liquid port, a gas port, and a seal ring disposed around the first liquid port, the second liquid port, and the gas port, the first liquid port disposed along a center axis of the container.

Abstract: A sequencing system includes an automated sequencing instrument adapted to determine variant calls for one or more extracted polynucleotide samples with a performance of at least 98.5% raw read accuracy and a run time in a range of 5 hours to 14 hours to determine variant calls for 4 extracted polynucleotide samples using a targeted assay with one DNA pool per sample and an average amplicon size in a range of 100 to 120 bases.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods for generating color video with a monochrome sensor include the acts of (i) selectively energizing each of a plurality of light sources in a sequence, (ii) capturing a monochrome image of the illuminated sample at a monochrome sensor at each stage of the sequence, and (iii) generating a color video from the monochrome images. The sequence can have a series of stages with each stage of the sequence corresponding to activation of a different wavelength of light from the light sources to illuminate a sample. Generating the monochrome video can include the acts of compiling a plurality of monochrome images captured at the monochrome sensor with a single light source into a series of monochrome video frames comprising the monochrome video.

Abstract: According to various embodiments described herein, a microfluidics-chip based purification device and system for Sanger-sequencing reactions is provided. The device and system allow for the introduction into a sequencing system of a cartridge containing purification technologies specific to the sequencing contaminants or sequencing method where the simplified purification solution of a cartridge allows automation of the sample purification process, reduced consumption of purification reagents, and consistency in sampling by reducing the sampling errors and artifacts. These various embodiments therefore solve the need for a microfluidics-chip-based, Sanger-sequencing reaction purification system for CE devices. The microfluidic chips described can be used as a PCR chip by reorganizing the on-chip reagents, reaction wells and work flow steps.

Abstract: The present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated handling of samples, e.g., biological or chemical samples. The apparatuses and the methods of the present teachings allow automated performance of various sample manipulation steps without manual intervention. In a preferred embodiment, the present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated enrichment of templated beads produced by PCR.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of fluorescent dyes, and in particular, compositions and methods for increasing fluorescent signals and the reduction of fluorescent quenching.

Abstract: A method for compressing nucleic acid sequence data wherein each sequence read is associated with a molecular tag sequence, wherein a portion of the sequence reads alignments correspond to sequence reads mapped to a targeted fusion reference sequence includes determining a consensus sequence read for each family of sequence reads based on flow space signal measurements corresponding to the family of sequence reads, determining a consensus sequence alignment for each family of sequence reads, wherein a portion of the consensus sequence alignments correspond to the consensus sequence reads aligned with the targeted fusion reference sequence, generating a compressed data structure comprising consensus compressed data, the consensus compressed data including the consensus sequence read and the consensus sequence alignment for each family, and detecting a fusion using the consensus sequence reads and the consensus sequence alignments from the compressed data structure.

Abstract: A filter bag assembly includes: a flexible first sheet; a flexible second sheet overlying and secured to the first sheet so that a compartment is formed therebetween; a porous filter sheet disposed between the first sheet and the second sheet so as to divide the compartment into a first compartment and a second compartment; a first port secured to the second sheet so as to communicate directly with the first compartment; and a second port secured to the second sheet so as to communicate directly with the second compartment, the second port being spaced apart from the first port. The porous filter sheet is disposed so that fluid entering the first compartment through the first port must pass through the filter sheet before entering the second compartment or exiting through the second port.

Abstract: A method for compressing molecular tagged sequence data includes: grouping sequence reads associated with a molecular tag sequence to form a family of sequence reads, corresponding vectors of flow space signal measurements and corresponding sequence alignments, calculating an arithmetic mean of the corresponding vectors of flow space signal measurements to form a vector of consensus flow space signal measurements, calculating a standard deviation of the corresponding vectors of flow space signal measurements to form a vector of standard deviations, determining a consensus base sequence based on the vector of consensus flow space signal measurements, determining a consensus sequence alignment and generating a compressed data structure comprising consensus compressed data, the consensus compressed data including for each family, the consensus base sequence, the consensus sequence alignment, the vector of consensus flow space signal measurements, the vector of standard deviations and the number of members.

Abstract: Methods for forecasting case counts for a future date in one or more geographic areas of persons infected by a disease is disclosed. The presence of the disease in a biological sample is testable by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. A load of one or more pathogens associated with the disease correlates with a PCR cycle which indicates presence of the one or more pathogens, and is referred to as a threshold cycle (Ct). Data relevant to forecasting the case counts including Ct data and other data is received. The Ct data comprises Ct values from PCR tests of biological samples from persons within the one or more geographic areas. Arrays of feature data for processing by a trained machine learning model are generated, comprising Ct features and other features obtained from the data. A forecasted number of infected persons are generated by processing the arrays using machine learning.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a substrate, a semiconductor device disposed over the substrate, the semiconductor device having a surface electrode structure, and a saccharide coating formed over the surface electrode structure. The saccharide coating can be removed prior to use. The semiconductor device can further include a well and optionally a bead disposed in the well.